Monday, September 25, 2017

A Visit to Copenhagen

Happy Monday, friends. We are going to try something that hasn't been accomplished on this blog in years: writing weekly. And to keep the streak going, today we're going to tell you about our trip to Copenhagen.

We went, as we tend to do, with our good couple friends who have similarly leaned into travel rewards, thanks to Brad at Richmond Savers. We ended up doing a stopover (a long, multi-day layover) in Copenhagen, that allowed us to also visit Berlin, come back, and then continue on the same ticket on our way to Stockholm. Basically, on our (nearly) free ticket to Stockholm, we took a extra week in between to visit another couple cities.

So, first things first. Copenhagen is insultingly expensive. Groceries were fairly reasonable, and the public transportation wasn't too expensive. But buying anything else was a bit of a stretch.

Luckily, our Park Inn was a couple blocks from a metro stop and had free breakfast. Which we gorged on every morning. And yeah, maybe we snuck some soft boiled eggs, croissants, fruit, and bacon, into plastic bags in our backpacks for a free lunch later.

Is this wandering into the realm of the cheap, rather than frugal? I don't know, but it's tasty. And there is no shame in our game, friends.

What were our favorites from Denmark?

As Kristy and Bryce at Millennial Revolution noted, Copenhagen's parks are insanely nice. And one of the few free things to enjoy. We, too, really liked the Star Park (Kastellet), though the parks near Rosenberg Castle stand out as preposterously beautiful.

Did I mention you can drink on the street in Copenhagen? There are single tall boys for sale at any grocery store. And while their idea of an I.P.A. differs from mine, an adult beverage still adds a little something to spending an afternoon in the park.

For those looking for something a little stronger than a beer, a visit to Christiania might be in order. The area has an interesting history that is part hippy commune, part squatter city, part autonomous anarchist movement. The area considers itself separate from the surrounding city, and apparently even have their own currency. Bike is the main mode of transportation here, especially these adorable wagon bike contraptions. There's a freecycle sort of area, where residents can donate or take free bike parts, boxes, insulation, wood, and building materials: very little seems to go to waste. We took a walk down pusher street, the only part of Christiania you cannot photograph, and one can indeed purchase bud, hash, and pre-rolled joints, if one was so inclined. One of the more interesting places I've seen: not to be missed.

We spent one day at Tivoli Gardens which is perhaps the classiest amusement park I've ever seen. It's like Disney Land without the kitsch. Although my day was cut short by the realization that I am getting old and, like Phil Dunphey, have apparently have developed some sort of inner ear nonsense that prevents me from being able to ride roller coasters any longer. Getting old sucks.

The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde made for a fantastic day trip, where you can not only learn about the nautical technology that made Viking conquest possible, but you can also hang with Tom, who ran the Viking battle competition in last season's Bachelorette. And you can ask him if Kenny was as impressive as he seemed on the show, and he will tell you, yes, Kenny is indeed a badass. Apparently he cut through a pig corpse in a single swing, but ironically the scene was cut. And then you can hug Tom and dorkily ask to take a selfie with him. If you're the sort of person for whom this would provide lifelong happiness and validation.

...and I get creeped by this "Brian from DoneByForty"

Let's just get to the photos.

Congratulations for making it to the end of our silly travelogue and, as always, thanks for reading.

Even doing our best to use travel rewards (all the hotels were paid for with points, and the long flights legs from the US were, too) it ended up being a pretty pricey trip. But probably in line with the cost for a more normal vacation to somewhere like Hawaii.

Love this post, love Kobenhaven! I lived there for 6 months after college, working ad an au pair. Since housing and meals were provided, it didnt feel crazy expensive, but I know those two items are big ones. Sweden is always the Scandinavian country I think of ad most expensive.

Sweden was definitely pricey, too, but somehow it seemed a little less expensive than Denmark. Maybe it's just the places we ate at. We found the best Thai we'd ever had and it was like $10 in Stockholm, which seemed like a steal to us.

Working as an au pair seems like a fantastic way to see a new part of the world, and to keep costs, down, too. Great tactic!

Ugh, Copenhagen is gorgeous! Looks to me like you guys did it right. Can't wait to hear about your other adventures! And, FWIW, if prices were as bad as all that, I'd totally have gamed the free breakfast as well. Git it!

I once lost my passport with a credit card in the sleeve in Copenhagen. When I reported it at a police station, they ensured me not to worry because it will be turned in. Sure enough, a day later I got a call to go to a lost and found on the outskirts of the city to pick it up!

Disclaimer: This blog is written for entertainment purposes only: not to give advice. I'm just some dude on the internet, and one without a whole lot of credentials. It's a good idea to consult with professional before making investment, tax, or financial decisions.